New Zealand police probes flydubai hijacker's time spent in island country - report

New Zealand Police are investigating flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami's time spent in the country following the attempted hijacking of flight FZ1073 on September 30. The investigation, confirmed by Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson, is being conducted alongside other agencies. Separately, the New Zealand Herald reported that Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot attacked by Hammami, trained in New Zealand with Mainland Air between 2008 and 2009.

New Zealand Police are investigating the time flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami spent in the country, following the attempted hijacking of flight FZ1073 on September 30. Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson confirmed the probe, stating it is being conducted alongside other agencies. Separately, the New Zealand Herald reported that Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot attacked by Hammami, trained with New Zealand's Mainland Air between 2008 and 2009, maintaining a relationship as an India-based recruitment agent. Mainland Air CEO Philip Kean noted that while pilots receive incapacitation training, stabbing scenarios are not covered. The investigation into Hammami's past extends to Australia, where authorities are probing whether he underwent ideological radicalization while on a student visa from 2015 to 2017. The UAE has classified the incident as an attempted terrorist act.